AFFINITY WITH THE WORLD, ENEMY OF GOD
TEXT: 2 CHRONICLES 18:1-12.
KEY VERSE “Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab” (2 CHRONICLES 18:1).
We are often confronted with choices in life which will eventually determine our destiny. The Almighty God, in His wisdom, could have decided the course of life for every man, but He has given everyone a free will to make choices of his own. He always guides so that we could make a wiser choice.
In today’s passage, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, chose to be friendly with the wicked King Ahab. He left his kingdom to visit Samaria and was convinced to assist Ahab in a battle at Ramoth-gilead. As a godly king, he sought God’s consent through Prophet Micaiah whether or not to embark on the journey. Ahab was a rebellious King. He disliked the true prophet because he hated the truth and lived in total disobedience to God. He was evil and disobedient; yet, Jehoshaphat, the righteous king, made him his close friend.
Like Jehoshaphat, many believers have gone into unnecessary friendship and alliance with the world. They allow themselves to be negatively influenced through all kinds of social interactions. They even go into marriages and business partnerships with them. But the Lord warns: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
God hates affinity with the world. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). These are not just on the losing side but their loss is both spiritual and eternal. The friendship of the world at its best is vanity. Will you now make yourself an enemy of God because of vanity? You cannot afford to be His enemy. Return to the Lord now without further delay!
✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY You cannot afford to be God’s enemy because of vanity.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 SAMUEL 24-24.
MEDITATION
Why some seekers are misled
- Deluded and the deceived seekers
a. Seeking the face of God when there is an unrepented sin in the heart v7, Ezekiel 14:9,10.
b. Asking God for guidance by merely asking Him to rubber stamp your preconceived idea or “idols in the heart” v7, Ezekiel 14:4,9.
c. When there is hidden unwillingness in the heart to do God’s will, whatever it may cost. Ahab was not willing vv7,12.
d. When there is a compromised or defiled relationship either with believers or unbelievers like Jehoshaphat did vv1, Romans 12:2.
Note 2 Timothy 4:3 also confirms that in the last days, a lot of “seekers” will also be deceived and deluded by prophets and preachers for the same reasons above. - The deceived and the deceiving prophets/ preachers
a. The prophets did not actually sought the face of God. They just prophesied/preached what came to their mind vv4, 5, Jeremiah 23:26.
b. The prophets knew what Ahab wanted them to prophesy and what will guarantee their financial rewards vv4,5,11.
c. What concerned the prophets/preachers was not the truth but profits or filthy lucre vv4,5.
d. Pleasing God was secondary to them even though they hypocritically deceived people that they were servants of God vv4,5.
e. Lying and deception are not in their dictionary of sins but only part of “wisdom” needed to carry the audience along v12, John 14:14.
Lord, search my heart of all stumbling blocks to divine guidance in my life and deliver me
Lord, I consecrate to love the truth and walk in the truth at whatever cost. Don’t allow me to be deceived
Lord, expose all the deceived and deceiving prophets/preachers in this nation and deliver their captives
Lord, purify by fire the youths and adults in the church from all the love of the world
HYMN Open my eyes that I may see
- Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth you have for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unlock and set me free.
Silently now, on bended knee,
ready I wait your will to see;
open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
2 Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth you send so clear;
and while the message sounds in my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Silently now, on bended knee,
ready I wait your will to see;
open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
3 Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart, and let me prepare
love with your children thus to share.
Silently now, on bended knee,
ready I wait your will to see;
open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
